Tromsø Northern Lights: Minibus Chase & Warm Dinner

Chasing the Aurora Across the Arctic: What It Actually Feels Like

You drive into the Arctic night with a local guide who reads weather and light in real time, stop at remote spots to hunt for the aurora, warm up around a campfire with homemade soup and hot drinks, and have your guide photograph the lights and you throughout the evening. Free social media photos are included. You leave with the pictures and the memory of an actual Arctic night, not a tour bus experience.

Step-by-step itinerary

Northern Lights chase and dinner

• Leave Tromsø city
• Travel into Arctic wilderness
• Follow weather and local tips
• Wear insulated winter overalls
• Gather around campfire
• Enjoy homemade meal and hot drinks
• Watch Northern Lights
• Guide takes photos
• Receive free social media pictures

The experience

You're standing outside your hotel at 6pm, and it's already pitch black. That's the first thing nobody quite prepares you for about Tromsø in November. The darkness arrives early and stays. The guides from Northern Lights in Focus show up with a minibus and winter overalls that feel like you're suiting up for something serious, because you are. There's no fixed route tonight. Instead, the guide checks the weather forecast, reads the clouds, and decides where to go based on what the Arctic is actually doing right now. You're not following a tourist trail. You're following conditions.

The minibus winds out of the city into the wilderness, and the conversation gets quieter as the landscape opens up. Your guide (someone who lives here, not someone visiting) points out why this spot might work, or why you need to keep moving. After a couple of hours of driving and stopping, you end up somewhere remote enough that the city lights have disappeared completely. That's when everyone gathers around a small campfire. There's homemade soup, hot drinks, and something sweet. It sounds simple, but sitting in the Arctic night with strangers who've all shown up for the same reason, passing around warm food while you wait. That's the actual experience. The Northern Lights either show up or they don't, and honestly, the waiting is half of it.

Your guide has a camera and tripod set up the whole time, capturing shots throughout the night. You get the social media versions free. The ones you can post and share immediately. If you want print-quality files later, those are available to buy, but the free pictures alone are good enough for most people. Whether the lights are strong and dancing across the sky or subtle and shifting green, the guide is documenting it. The whole thing runs through the night, and you're back at your hotel with time to sleep before morning.

One practical thing: if you want the Spanish-language tour, you need to contact them in advance to confirm the guide is available that night. English and German tours run regularly, but Spanish needs a heads-up. Also, pickup is from Scandic Ishavshotel, so if you're staying elsewhere, you'll need to get there or arrange something separate.

What’s included

• Your tour includes insulated winter overalls, tripods, and headlamps to keep you equipped for the Arctic night. Pickup happens from Scandic Ishavshotel at 6pm. A local guide who speaks English, German, or Spanish leads the chase, adjusting the route based on real-time weather and light conditions. During the night, you gather around a campfire for homemade warm soup, hot drinks, and a sweet treat. Your guide photographs the aurora and portraits throughout the evening, and free social media quality pictures are included with your booking.
• print-quality versions are available for separate purchase.

Options for this experience

2 options

2027 ToursGuide in English, Spanish or German · Available from 1 Jan 2027

2026 ToursGuide in English, Spanish or German · 17:30 and 18:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 17:30 and 18:00Last departure this season: 31 Mar 2027

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (6 to 14 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Blue Puffin

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to hunt for the Northern Lights with someone who actually reads the Arctic instead of following a fixed route, and if you'd rather spend the night in a small group around a campfire than on a tour bus. The flexibility is what makes finding good conditions possible.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 14 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What happens if the Northern Lights don't appear?

The tour runs regardless. You're still out in the Arctic night with your guide, around the campfire with warm food. The experience is about the night itself, not a guarantee of visible lights.

How long is the tour?

The tour runs through the night. Pickup is at 6pm, and you return to your hotel after several hours of driving, waiting, and watching.

What's included in the price?

Winter overalls, tripods, headlamps, pickup from Scandic Ishavshotel, an English/German/Spanish-speaking guide, homemade warm soup, hot drinks, a sweet treat, and free social media quality photos. Print-quality versions cost extra.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

It's suitable for all physical fitness levels. You're mostly sitting or standing in one spot, though you do spend hours outdoors in Arctic cold.

Can I do this if I'm pregnant?

The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers.

Is this a large group?

It's a small-group minibus tour, which means fewer people and a more flexible chase based on real conditions rather than a fixed itinerary.

What if I'm staying at a different hotel?

Pickup is from Scandic Ishavshotel. You'd need to arrange your own transport there or contact the operator about alternatives.

Can I book the Spanish tour?

Yes, but you need to contact the operator in advance to confirm guide availability for your date.